Tight at the top of the Magners League

25 March 2010 10:13am

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With only five full rounds of the Magners League left to play, everyone has an eye on the prize of a top four finish and a place in the inaugural Magners League Play-Offs come the end of the regular season in May.

And the situation at the top of the table could not be tighter with just one match point separating the top four teams currently in the Play-Off Zone, with two of those teams, Munster and Glasgow Warriors, meeting head to head on Friday night. Warriors will have to overcome their hosts' impressive home record if they are to take the points from this game and complete a season's double over the reigning Magners League champions.

Elsewhere on Friday night Cardiff Blues entertain Ulster at Cardiff City Stadium, and both teams are in need of a win if they are to maintain any possible challenge for a coveted top four spot, although history may favour the hosts as Ulster have only ever won once on Cardiff soil, in 2005.

The final game on Friday night is in Scotland with Murrayfield the setting for Edinburgh's clash with Scarlets. History again favours the home side in this fixture as the Welsh region have never won on Edinburgh soil.

Saturday sees two same-union derbies - Leinster welcoming Connacht to the RDS, whilst Ospreys make the long trip down the M4 to play Newport Gwent Dragons. League leaders Leinster, with one eye on the result from Thomond Park on Friday night will be hoping to extend their four point gap at the top of the table with victory in this game, whilst for Ospreys and Dragons, both just outside the Play-Off zone, victory is vital to give either team a chance of still making a cherished top four place.

WRU International Skills Coach Jason Strange is a busy man, combining the new role with that of Wales Under 20 attack coach, Ebbw Vale head coach and continuing to teach at Ebbw Fawr Learning Community.

Warren Gatland and Sam Warburton look ahead to this week's crunch RBS 6 Nations tie against France, where the Wales skipper in particular is keen to make his mark, as Paris has proved a bleak place for him in the past.

Following their historic win over England, Wales Under 20 suffered a narrow, 36-34 loss to their Scottish counterparts last weekend, despite outscoring them by five tries to three. Watch the match highlights and reaction.

WRU TV go behind the scenes with the Wales squad as they put the final touches in place ahead of the clash against Scotland at Murrayfield. Follow the squad on their captain's run, the kickers visit to Murrayfield and Neil Jenkins' press conference